AN: Please leave me lots and lots of NICE reviews.

9/22/23

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Fate. They belong to their perspective owners.

Part 2- Thunder

Chapter 8- Let down

"Would you care to repeat that, Mongrel?" Gilgamesh spoke in an icy tone, his eyes glaring daggers into the blonde before him.

Now, normally, one would fall under such a glare from the king of heroes, the original epic, and the one regarded as the strongest servant.

Naruto was not such a person.

In fact, the only thing that happened when he saw the king's expression was his grin started to widen. An underlying tone of mischief within his voice, "I think you heard me clearly, Goldie." The blonde avenger said.

Before, he tried to egg the golden man's anger on. "But if you couldn't get in your head before. I said: if killing a small little girl like her is all the king of heroes can accomplish. Then it's sad to say that your pathetic little friend died for nothi—"

Naruto's speech was halted, as a portal manifested at the golden king's side. A sword being launched straight at his head.

Naruto pivoted at the last second, dodging as if it were the easiest thing in the world. All the while, he still held that blasted smirk across his face.

"It would do well for you to learn your place, mongrel…" Gilgamesh spoke in a cold tone, his arm stretch outward, ready to launch another set of weapons towards his new opponent.

Naruto looked at him innocently, something that graded upon the king's nerve's. "What? It's not like I said anything bad, you need to learn to take a j—"

Another set of weapons was launched at him, him dodging just as easily. As explosions rang off in the distance, right where the weapons previously launched at him landed.

Naruto looked back, seeing the aftermath. "Well, that wasn't very nice," he quipped. "That could have killed me." His tone as if he were actually hurt by the whole ordeal.

Shirou, who had been watching this exchange, only had his eyes set on one thing. That person was Ilya, the injured master, with eyes slashed out by the golden man before him.

He was still held within Rin's grip, as she had tackled him to hide from the golden king. Yet, at the moment, her attention was fully drawn towards the new servant, as well as her sister standing beside him.

'Now!' Shirou yelled within his mind, seeing the opportunity, as he burst forward. Intent on saving the young girl, and protecting her from the man at her side who had tried to kill her.

Sprinting, he launched himself towards the girl; picking her up as she was unable to stop him.

All the while, Gilgamesh watched on, seeing the rat take what was his. Moving his arm, a portal manifested above the wannabe hero of justice.

A golden spear's top poking through his gate, intent on piercing the red haired boy's chest as he tried to rush for cover.

At least it would have, had another person's technique not interfered with the spear's flight path.

Slash.

A golden shuriken-like orb made of pure chakra was sent at the weapon. It easily slashed it in two, courtesy of his rasenshuriken.

Naruto wagged his finger, "Ah, Ah, Ah, it's rude not pay attention to a person while he's speaking. Honestly, where are your manners?" He provoked.

And for some reason, it worked.

"Grrr…" Gilgamesh growled, as he manifested several more portals in a line. As the weapons that peaked out were easily destroyed, as a well skilled rasenshuriken was thrown to slash at all the weapon's tips.

It was only then that Naruto turned his attention to the person at his side. The girl flinching, seeing the servant look upon her; being nervous seeing her crush, or maybe even former crush, right in the room right in front of her.

He smiled, "Sakura-Chan, why don't you go find cover. This could get pretty messy," Naruto requested with a small wink, forming a small Bijuu-dama within his palms.

As he sent it forward, faster than many could react to, a shield manifesting in front of the golden man. The explosion wrapping around his entire being, yet as the light dissipated he was untouched.

"Don't think you can turn your attention from a king…" Gilgamesh spoke, more portals forming around him, as he began to use some of his stronger weapons. Not the ones he used to deal with, pathetic mongrels he needed to put down.

As Naruto turned his attention to the man, a grin upon his face. "Oh, don't think I wasn't keeping an eye on you, Goldie."

Several weapons were launched at him, this time they were much faster. As Naruto was forced to move from his place, having given Sakura enough time to move from her position.

Jumping high, as he did a backflip, he was forced to weave around the weapons that were launched at him. Forming another tailed beast ball within his hand, he launched it at an incoming cluster of weapons that were sent at him.

"Tsk," Gilgamesh tsked, the ninja landing on his feet. Patting the imaginary dust off his figure, he smirked towards the king.

Nobody seemingly within the large room they were currently in. Large holes of rubble falling from the ceiling, the weapons having missed him completely, detonation across the wreckage of the former Einzbern estate.

Naruto smiled. "Goldie, come on, you got to be better than that if you want to hit me. I thought the 'Great King of Heroes would at least be able to hit little old me—"

Squelch.

Everyone's eyes widened, Sakura's purple eyes the most. As they all saw a golden dagger stream faster than light straight into the man's stomach.

As Naruto's cerulean orbs felt the same, he gazed at the king in surprise. Not expecting such an attack to come at him so swiftly. And all she was able to do was remain surprise.

'Did he?' Shirou questioned, having taken the blinded Illyasviel way. Rin at his side, just as surprised as he was. Not expecting the powerful extra-class servant they had met within the forest to suddenly lose to the golden king like that.

But the one who was most shocked was Sakura herself. As her purple orbs were fixated on the weapon that had pierced Naruto's side. Seeing the crimson blood drip to the ground. Having taken the time, Naruto had given her to hide behind some rubble created by the numerous battles within the area.

Until something else happened, something unexpected…

Poof.

Naruto's body burst into smoke, with the golden dagger falling helplessly on the floor.

As a familiar voice sounded throughout the building. "Oh come on, you didn't think I would be taken down as easily as that."

Sakura's head snapped in its direction, seeing her blonde servant there, upside down. Standing upon the building ceiling as if it were just normal ground.

As he held his hand within a familiar cross-hand sign. Several plumes of smoke burst around him, as they were left to witness several copies of Naruto appear within thin air.

Gilgamesh realized what happened, "So, you can make copies of yourself. And you used that explosion from that technique of yours to switch yourself out, quite clever… for a mongrel." He narrowed his eyes at the real Naruto.

"Oh, so you noticed; it's been a signature technique of mine for a while now. It would have been a shame to not have pulled it out," Naruto told him.

"Then it shall be your last!" Gilgamesh shouted, as he shot numerous weapons at breakneck speeds towards all the blonde's clones. Each hitting their target.

Well, except for one, as the real Naruto dodged it. Not missing a beat, "Well that was something, and here I thought all you had in that gate of yours we were little soldiers' weapons."

Gilgamesh glared. "I'll show you what's in my gate, mongrel!" He growled, more weapons being shot at his form.

All the while, Naruto kept up his tiger seal, with more clones forming in front of him, taking his place as they exploded in fiery dismay.

"Sakura-chan! I'm going to need you to move even further back, this is going to get messy!" Naruto shouted, as he jumped down, effortlessly landing upon his feet. As he summoned more clones, kunai appeared in all of their hands.

"All right! Let's do this!" his clones shouted, all of them changed forward, weaving around the thrown objects as many of them dispersed into smoke as a few of them were hit.

They all launched their knives, and to the king's credit, he dodged them all. Effortlessly, he blocked many of them with his gate. And the ones that got by were easily maneuvered around, the king not even moving from his spot.

More golden portals formed around them .

All the while, large grins were placed upon all the Naruto's faces.

XXX

(With Sakura)

She ran when she was told to.

Sakura saw the impending battle that had started. It was a battle of titans; servants in a class of their own.

But still, she saw Naruto's 'death.'

And for some unknown reason, it irked her when she saw it. That she felt that her blonde servant had actually perished.

She didn't know why.

Was it that he'd freed her? That he killed grandfather? That he was the voice in her head that had watched over her all this time? She didn't know.

The man was entirely a mystery, one that she couldn't get a read on.

It was like he was the scariest person imaginable to everyone else… yet why was he so kind to her?

She had also seen Shirou for the first time since 'that' night, ever since he had chosen her sister. He was with her too…

Rin.

She saw it, from the moment they had arrived she had seen him with her.

She didn't like it.

It pained her, and the way he instantly rushed after that girl, berserker's master, why did it hurt so much.

Her thoughts were broken as her head snapped in the direction of the Einzburn building she was right outside. Her attention drawn entirely to the wooden wall in front of her.

Not a moment later, a figure came bursting forward, right out of the wall. As if he had been launched by something, dodging something, as he got outside.

He noticed her instantly, as he smiled, "Oh, hey, Sakura-chan, something seems to be on your mind?" Naruto noticed, as he was now in a crouching position, ready to jump back into the fight.

And she knew, this was the real him, the real Naruto, not one of his clones. Why did he take the time to see her, even if he was in a battle with another servant?

Nonetheless, the girl looked away, not meeting her servant in the eye. "It's nothing," she told him.

But Naruto was persistent. "Oh, come now, Sakura, you can tell me anything, what's bothering you?" He prodded, asking in concern.

Yet she remained silent.

"It's about that boy… shirou, isn't it?" He realized.

Sakura realized there was no point in lying to him, after all, he had been within her mind long enough to know the truth. Besides, he had the ability to sense negative emotions, not that she knew that.

Sakura squirmed on her feet, her white blouse flowing in the wind. "It's just…"

"You saw him rescue that girl, did you, you didn't like that," Naruto finished. He read her as an open book.

He was right.

And he probably thought she was selfish, a bad person. A parasite, someone who thirsted for one another and got jealous when they went away.

"You still care about him," her servant noticed with a frown.

And it was true, she did still care about Shirou. He was the one to elicit hope within her.

Yet… where was that hope now?

He was a hero of justice, he was willing to save everyone. That's why he went to save illyasviel from that servant, Gilgamesh, Naruto called him.

Why didn't he save her? Why? She felt… she felt—

"You feel betrayed," Naruto finished, as if he were reading her mind. And he was right, she felt betrayed, alone, forgotten.

Nobody else was there for her. Nobody—

She felt a hand being placed upon her shoulder. And, as she looked up, she saw that it was Naruto's.

"You feel alone. Well, I feel alone too, because I've been betrayed too, so I know what you're going through. And it's hard, an endless pit of knowing whether or not you can trust anyone. And the truth is you can't," He reasoned.

Cerulean eyes stared into her soul, her own amethyst ones widened at his words. As she stood there, frozen, her lip quivering in surprise. Unable to speak, unable to move.

As a Naruto brought a soft hand up to the girl's chin. "At least you feel you shouldn't yet at the same time your heart can't accept that, it desires to be close to someone. I know that feeling trust me I do. But you have to learn to pick out who you can trust and those who will let you down... even from me."

He wasn't stupid, he knew that doubts could form within her mind about him. After all she didn't know everything, even with the small amount of his memories she'd seen from him. No, he needed to get closer to her.

A new idea sprung into Naruto's head, as he snapped his fingers. "Hey, after all of this is over, why don't we get some ramen together? I haven't had any in ages!" He suggested something he was looking forward to.

He was met with no response.

As his attention was drawn toward the Einzbern building, his smile dropped completely.

"Sakura, I'm going to need you to go even further ahead." Naruto warned. As he then clapped his hands, trying to keep up a positive attitude. "Well, I got to go. Kings to kill, heroes to conquer, Y'know, the usual," he quipped, jumping into the same hole he came from.

All the while, Sakura had a small smile from across her lips.

One that easily disappeared as she heard a new voice enter the vicinity. "Sakura, what are you doing here?"

Sakura's blood went cold, her expression lost, as her eyes widened.

… it was Shirou.

XXX

The Einzbern mansion was destroyed, totaled. Nobody would be able to live within the home any longer.

Numerous stray weapons littered the floor, each struck the ground, walls, and ceiling helpless as they missed their targets. And the ones that did land didn't provide much of anything, as all that was hit were one of Naruto's shadow clones.

Yet, Gilgamesh still stood there, becoming increasingly more irritated.

"What? Goldie, can't handle a few copies?" One of them questioned, he died for his efforts.

As one of the more brazen clones decided to get close. Pushing forward, as he tried to send a harsh blow towards the king's right cheek. Keyword; tried, as he was unable to. As the moment, he tried to strike upon his face, Gilgamesh dodged. A long axehead waiting for the clone as he did so.

There were easily tens, if not a hundred, clones. All moving around him, dodging the weapons that had been launched at them. He'd lost track of the real one, as each of them was indistinguishable from the original. It irked him, that he was unable to find who he desired. That he didn't have a single treasure within his arsenal capable of doing so.

"You are but vermin! Crawling around on the ground, able to grasp at your better, me, a king!" Gilgamesh sounded, becoming increasingly angry at the whole ordeal.

"Awww, that's mean!" One of his clones stated, him bursting into smoke not a moment later.

"Yeah, you'd think that the king of heroes would have better insults," another chimed in as he got ready to do his own impression. "Look at me, I'm the king, you're little bugs. Unworthy to—" he died as well.

All of them are mongrels, all of them are trash. Unworthy, unjust; vermin, pests… so why couldn't he kill him?!

He was even more infuriating than that dreadful Lancelot from the last war. And he refused to die as well, no matter what he threw at him. He just kept spamming that clone ability of his, using them as a shield as he went away. And no matter then he'd thought he'd found the real one, he was proven wrong.

Him!

Him! The king of heroes! Wrong!

Another one of those clones inched forward, weaving around the portals he created. As he spun on his heels, a sword at the ready to pierce the clone.

Poof.

Gilgamesh's eyes widened, and, to his credit, He managed to try and turn away to gaze at him. But he was too late, the Naruto was too fast. Seemingly appearing straight out of thin air as a harsh blow was sent at his face.

The clone died for his efforts, but it had been successful nonetheless.

As the King's red eyes widened, unable to comprehend what had happened. Yet he realized it all the same.

A stone... a stone on the ground was missing. Originally, he'd given it no mind, disregarded it as another piece of rubble that had talked at his feet.

That had been what Naruto had been planning, as he also revealed that he had the ability to shape-shifter as well.

But that brought another problem. One he only realized when blood dripped down his cheek, curtousy of the harsh blown given to him not seconds prior. A blow capable of injuring even two-thirds gods like himself.

The glare he sent the Naruto would have sent lesser men to their graves, it paling in comparison to the glares he had shown before.

As all his looks portrayed death, promised pain, and desired retribution…

Exactly what he wanted.

As more and more of the pebbles, stones, and rubble poofed into smoke. Showing just how thoroughly Naruto had planned this all out.

This was Naruto's plan, the king was surrounded by all sides, and he would be unable to dodge. As other clones within the back got ready to shoot down any stray weapons that might approach upon themZ

All of the clones held different rasengans within their hands each capable of severely damaging the eldest hero.

As they charged...

Hundreds of portals manifested, and with one shout, the battle was over…

"Enough!"

XXX

Earlier.

(With Sakura)

"S-Senpai?!" Sakura squeaked, a shiver running down her spine.

No.

No! This could be happening!

She could see him! Couldn't talk to him! Not here, not right now.

Not after what he did.

She tried to run away, tried to escape. But a hand grasped her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"Sakura, wait!" The red-haired boy pleaded as she rushed forward, wrestling free, intent on leaving when Naruto had told her to.

Besides, it's not like she wanted to talk to him anyway.

But no matter how far she walked away, the boy followed her. Even when she reached the end of the estate, he was still right behind her.

But that's when she saw it—the person in front of her...

Rin.

Blue eyes widened at her. "S-Sakura?!" The twin-tailed girl sounded. The blind, white-haired Einzbern at her side. Silent, as if she were a doll.

Sakura turned on her feet, not wanting to deal with this right now.

"No wait!" Shirou said once again.

But Sakura wasn't hearing any of it, covering both of her ears. "S-Senpai, I can't, not right now," she said in only a whisper.

But Shirou heard it, as he grasped onto her arm.

Weakly, and in a moment of desperation, the girl peered an eye open. Seeing the golden orbs filled with compassion that once gave her comfort.

"Sakura, please, just listen to me right now," Shirou asked pleadingly.

Her heart ached, but not in the same way it did before. She was reminded of the love that was held within them—love that wasn't for her.

As her eyes were directed to her sister at her side, remembering the betrayal the two took part in.

"I-I can't," she told them, trying to get away from the two.

But Shirou wasn't having it. "Sakura, is this about that servant?" He questioned, as the former Tohsaka froze in her place.

"Sakura, he's evil!" Shirou told him. "I could see it in his eyes—that darkness, that hate, that anger."

As Rin stepped forward, she said, "Sakura, can't you see he's dangerous? We don't know where he came from or what he's capable of. He could be trying to kill us all for what we know," her sister tried to reason.

But for some reason, Sakura wasn't having any of it. Firmly covering her ears as she was trying to drown out any words that Shirou or Rin might say.

A hand grabbing onto her shoulder, it sending signals like lighting all across her nervous system. "Sakura you have to listen to us," Shirou pleaded.

But the girl was not so adamant in hearing them out. "No! I can't, I-I... Don't—" she said with her head held low, before a fire was lit up within her soul.

"Don't talk about him like that… don't act like you care all of a sudden," she told them, eyeing the two, her words leaving her lips before her mind could process everything. There was a coldness in their eyes, one not thought possible by their kind younger friend and sister.

"But we do care—" Shirou tried to say, before he was interrupted.

"Then where were you!" She accused, "Where were you when I needed you? Where was my hero!" Sakura asked, turning her attention to her former sister.

"And where were you, dear sister?" she revealed, as Rin's own eyes widened. Shirou's too, not expecting such a development. "When father sold me to 'that' family, you were nowhere to be found. You didn't talk to me, didn't speak with me, and didn't even look at me. I idolized you… but where were you?" Sakura asked, her anger pouring out, as tears fell from her eyes.

"I-I…" Rin tried to reason, her own eyes starting to form similar pools as well, not that she would admit it.

But her sister wasn't satisfied. "Huh! Sister, where were you?!" The purple-haired girl accused her, and she wasn't left with an answer.

"Sakura…" Shirou tried to reason, but as that tear-filled glare was upon him, he was left speechless. There was so much pain, so much suffering, he didn't expect it in that one look of hers. And as such, he was shocked.

Boom!

An explosion shook the area, and all their eyes turned back to the mansion. A golden explosion rang out.

But none were more shocked than Sakura herself. "N-no…" Sakura quivered, expecting the worst, a palm rushing towards her lips.

As she ran on pure instinct…

Rin and Shirou followed her.

XXX

(With Naruto)

"It can't be…" Sakura said in disbelief, rushing to the edge of what had once been the Einzbern mansion. Rin and Shirou, too, were at her side. She didn't care, as all of her attention was currently on the scene right in front of her.

Naruto was hunched over, as if crucified on metal chains that were tied at his arms and feet. All his clones were destroyed, as hundreds of weapons lay at their feet. His clothes were torn as blood littered his body, dripping out of both his nose and mouth.

Gilgamesh stood over him with a triumphant smirk across his face.

Yet Naruto still looked upon him, defiant, his smile never leaving his lips.

Spit!

A mixture of both blood and saliva was launched at the king, directly on top of his shoes. Much to the man's ire, the king looked at him as if he'd just killed his firstborn child. A look of pure and utter hatred, as he inspected his now dirtied shoes.

"Vermin!" Gilgamesh called, rearing his arm back.

A harsh fist to the whiskered blonde's face for his troubles. His face recoiled from the blow, more blood flowing out of his mouth as he did so.

But the king didn't stop there…

"Insect!" Another fist.

"Rodent!" A knee to his gut.

"Trash!" A harsh kick to his face.

"Scum! Filth! Mongrel!" Each word was emphasized by another kick to his cranium.

All the while, Naruto was forced to the ground, unable to move, as the chains of Enkidu were wrapped around his figure.

Sakura watched on in horror, unable to believe that the indomitable servant she had only recently come to know had been defeated.

But, as she was about to rush forward, another voice stopped her…

It was Naruto's, and he was still defiant. "You hit like you fight, pathetic," he said in only a whisper.

Gilgamesh heard it as he once again stomped on his face. "I am a king!" He said in rage, stomping on his cranium with each word.

Sakura couldn't bear to watch, but that's when it happened... Naruto's bruised eyes widened ever so slightly. He looked at her, and he sent her a wink so subtly not even she could realize what he had done.

"Me! The king of heroes! A god to you pathetic mortals! You are but nothing in my presence!" Each word was said with another blow to his skull, and all the while, Naruto took it all without a word.

There were no sounds of pain or groans of disbelief. It was sickening, as if Gilgamesh were attacking a corpse, or if Naruto had been through all this before.

That was, until, Naruto had enough—

Leaping forward, he grasped the golden servant by the head as he pushed him down."What's a king to a usurper? What's a God to a nonbeliever!" He shouted. Gilgamesh was too surprised to see him move, even as the chains of Enkidu bound him in place.

But, as he tried to force his chains back, pulling the whiskered blonde off of him, something peculiar happened—they snapped.

The chains of Enkidu broke, as if they had never even been restricted at all. Of course they hadn't, he didn't have an ounce of divinity within his entire body.

Gilgamesh leaped back, gaining distance from the infuriating man.

Something set the man on edge, his crimson eyes widening.

Naruto's words made things even more clear, "I win," he said in a cold tone.

Now, normally, if one were to look upon a fight, they would expect the victor to be uninjured. Unharmed, at least, in comparison to the guy who had been defeated.

But this was not the case, as Naruto was only barely able to stand upon his feet, many of his bones having been broken. Several cuts along his frame and bruises across his face.

To contrast, Gilgamesh's form was different, untouched, save for the mark upon his cheek.

But Naruto knew the truth, he had it all planned out from the very start.

Suddenly, the ground around them began to change, reddening and darkening. As an eerie tone began to erupt around the entire building.

Gilgamesh's eyes widened, recognizing this feeling. "You're—" he realized, as he was cut off.

"My curses, you recognize them," Naruto said darkly, his eyes having fully turned crimson.

As hundreds— no! Thousands of seal-like kanji began to form around them. Multiplying rapidly, increasing in number to the point not even Naruto could count them.

"What was it you said in the last war? 'It would take three times as much of my mud to even affect you?' What about twenty? Thirty? A hundred?… What then, king of heroes?!" Naruto mocked, his curse seals easily triumphing over his dark mud in power. As their power was far more concentrated than he could have ever imagined.

But surely, this technique must have had a weakness, a requirement— something!

Gilgamesh realized his plight, and where exactly he had gone wrong.

He never sensed an ounce of this cursed energy from the man, Angra Mainyu as Kirei had once called him.

That had been what Naruto had planned, using his second Noble Phantasm as a cover to hide his original.

First he used the clones, then those strange balls of energy. Then came the clones, which he perceived as a last-ditch effort. And sure, he had recognized that this man held a strange dark energy within him, but that had been his ploy.

No, that had hardly been it, he was using his True Noble phantasm!

From the very start, spreading those seals, those curses everywhere he walked. His clones too! That had been their intent, something he had not anticipated.

All to deceive him into not realizing the true Noble Phantasm of this servant. Something that could truly kill him.

Gilgamesh realized he needed to get back, needed to use 'that' against this enemy.

He had underestimated him— no! That had been Angra's plan—to make him think he was weaker than he actually was.

"Too late!" Naruto spoke, extending his open palm forward with all of his fingers pointed outward.

Yet Gilgamesh didn't believe him, as he flew, being one of the few servants capable of unassisted flight. Intent on reaching out of Naruto's curse range and blowing the entire area off the face of the earth.

"No! I am the king of heroes! The first epic, I am—"

"…Dead." Naruto finished, closing his fist.

Instantly, all of the cursed seals closed in on their target, bursting forward in bolts of red energy so fast that they sent a thunderclap throughout the heavens.

Black and red ribbon-like tendrils made of pure kanji rushed for the mid-flight demigod. And, as they touched him and wrapped themselves around him, the whole world stopped. As it was engulfed in an eerie light, the sun-lit sky became night in a second.

The aftermath was too much for many of them to bear. As they realized just how powerful this mysterious Avenger was…

All the while, a dark laugh sounded around them.

XXX

"So, what do you think you're doing to Sakura?" Naruto asked aloud. As he seemingly teleported behind his purple-haired master, a testament to his speed. Holding his hands upon the girl's shoulders, setting both the hero of justice and the Tohsaka mage on edge.

"What?" Naruto smirked. "Is there something on my face?" He asked teasingly.

Shirou's grip tightened at his side. "You stay away from her!" He shouted.

"—Or what?" Naruto asked, peeking his head over the smaller girl's frame.

Sakura shifted upon her feet at the close contact, unable to move as she was petrified at the two's glare.

"You're not going to do anything…" Naruto responded as if it were a matter of fact, and it was true.

Shirou was unable to do anything, and was left helpless. Knowing Naruto could hurt his purple-haired kohai within the blink of an eye.

All the while, he gritted his teeth.

"Y'know, I think it's time you two leave," Naruto said with a smile, yet no joy was left in his voice.

"We can't!" Rin finally sounded, speaking for the first time in this overwhelming presence.

But that only caused Naruto's anger to grow even further. "Why? You never cared about her before. Besides… I would be more worried about her," he said, pointing a lone finger at the speechless white-haired girl at Rin's side.

"What did you do to her?" Shirou questioned him, his rage spiking as well.

Yet Naruto still had that infuriating smirk across his face, "Oh? It's not what I did to her. But the sword Goldie used was a particularly mystic one, cursed as well. I should know after all…" he trailed off.

Rin's azure orbs widened, realizing the consequences of what he meant. If illya had been cursed, they needed to purge her of the effects, fast. And if they kept illya here, she would—

Nonetheless, he continued. "If you keep her here, she'll perish," Naruto revealed.

Shirou's eyes widened as well. "Then I will save them both!"

His exclamation actually caused Naruto to think about it for a few seconds. He brought a finger up to his chin, humming. "Hmm, an interesting way to go about, but it's sad to say that it won't work, because..."

As he tighted his grip upon Sakura's shoulder, "I'll kill you if you try to take her where she doesn't want to go… now choose."

As all of their eyes widened, Sakura's the most, as she realized what he was doing. But even still, she wanted to— needed to!— hear Shirou's answer.

Sadly, Shirou's answer was given as suddenly Illya began to fall to her knees, clutching her now bleeding, damaged eye sockets.

"Berserker... berserker..." she mutters, as if lost in a trance, unable to hear anything they were saying, the pain and memories being too much.

"Tick tock…" Naruto's voice sounded, knowing that their time was limited.

Shirou's fist tightened even more, so much that his skin started to turn white, as his palms started to bleed from the pressure.

He doubted this servant would actually harm Sakura, at least for a little while. He still needed her for her mana after all.

And, as he looked down at Illyasviel, his goal came to mind.

How could he become a hero of justice if he couldn't even save one little girl?

Shirou leaned down to help the small girl, as Sakura's heart shattered.

Rin realized this too, as she told her companion, "Shirou, we need to get her back to my house, quick." she told him, as he nodded.

He looked towards his kouhai, "Sakura, I will come for you, just wait for me!" He promised.

… as he turned away.

"No, he won't..." Naruto whispered into her ear, something she knew to be true.

XXX

As Shirou and her sister left the vicinity, something strange happened.

As Naruto nearly collapsed to the ground, permanently destroying Gilgamesh's spirit core was almost too much for him. But even so, he couldn't allow the king of heroes to remain within the war, he was just too much of a wild card he couldn't allow to remain free.

"N-Naruto?" Sakura asked in surprise, seeing her servant fall to his knees like that, as she tried to pick him up off the ground. Uncaring of the blood that marred his skin, staining her white clothes and blouse.

Naruto's eyes looked straight at her, and Sakura realizing that they were now a cool cerulean blue. "Thanks, Sakura," he told her, his face contorting into a pained smile.

"Y-You're hurt!" Sakura realized.

But Naruto just laughed. "Haha, I guess I am, fighting one of the most powerful servants will do that to you," he said in mirth, a teasing tone in his voice.

Eyeing him with a cold glare, he laughed even more, patting onto her head in an attempt to soothe her.

"Relax, Sakura-Chan, my healing factor will kick in soon, and then I'll be as good as new," he told her.

"Healing factor?" Sakura questioned, supposing he could have such an ability. But that didn't make it better, as he was still gravely injured. As she glared at him even harder.

Naruto caught it instantly, "Oh? I knew you cared," he teased, as a light dusting fell upon the girl's cheeks.

She turned away. Wait?… why did she care so much.

Sadly, their cute little scene ended with a loud thunderclap.

Snatch.

As a sword was launched at them at breakneck speeds.

Naruto's hand reached up and caught it by the hilt instantly, stopping it from piercing his spirit core entirely.

All the while, his now crimson-red eyes stared off in the distance.

Miles away, a tanned, white-haired servant moved his position, realizing he wouldn't get such an easy kill as he thought he would. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized this servant was watching him.

As he retreated away.

XXX

(Fuyuki's church)

"So there's an extra servant, that... changes things," a clocked woman realized, as her partner looked towards her with a raised eyebrow.

"There is, and he's quite powerful, I take it there won't be a problem?" Archer inquired.

"No, it won't," Medea spoke.

As she turned from her position, looking upon the shackled-down blonde saber-class servant.

"...After all, we have her."

End Chapter.

An: I hope I did well with the Naruto Vs Gilgamesh fight, even if it was a bit short. But also very impactful.

But if you were hoping for a battle of Giants using 100% of their strength then it's sad to say that wasn't the case.

As a Naruto had intentionally been restricting himself from the very start. Both lowering Gilgamesh's guard and raising it at the same time.

Which lead to Gilgamesh believing that his plan was always the last ditch effort of being surrounding him by hundreds of clones when in fact that had never been the point.

The only point of all the clones were a diversion, to get Gilgamesh to not notice the fact that he was spreading his near invisible curses all around the area. So much so that it eventually became enough to kill Gil outright.

Naruto isn't an idiot here, he knows that Gil can likely beat him, especially if he used Ea. Which is why never lets him get the opportunity, doing things both efficiently and unexpectedly, he has to.

Which lead to him letting Gilgamesh injuring him to lower his guard even more, and to take him out with so much curses it would leave even a person of his willpower to graze past his heart.

This was all just strategy, Naruto's strategy from the very start. And his foolproof plan to defeat Gil rather than the much smaller chances he might have when battling him head on.

We also got a better description of Naruto's NP's and to clarify he had 2.

1. Is essentially Chakra, the nine tail's chakra to be specific, and he has immense control of it.

2. His second is his powers he gets from becoming Angra Mainyu, which is mostly his powers of curse.

And he can combine these two NP's to even make his chakra spread curses, like he did in his battle. But he can also turn them off at will.

Next chapter: We'll get some more bonding moments with Naruto/Sakura, and the start of Medea's plans.

Remember, now that Gil's gone Kirei is gonna have to get a better hold on lancer. Which results in Lancer not helping Rin and Shirou get Saber back. Which means Medea gets enough time to disable her contract and whittle down her magic resistance skill.

Gaining herself one blonde Baber.

How will Naruto far against not one, but three servants? All very powerful: Medea, Archer/EMIYA, and Artoria/Saber. One more if we include Sasaki, but he's kinda trapped at the temple.

Question: Does this count as a Dark Naruto story?

Because we got some really sweet scenes between Naruto and Sakura. And while those Naruto is a bit dark with his tactics, he's not fully evil, if anything he's probably be more of a neutral.

Idk, maybe we'll have to see more for certain. Cause atm I'm kinda leaning towards classifying him more as a Grey character.

I'm tired, it's 3 AM.

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